It is natural that al-Sayyida Fatimah (‘a) – with her special status and proximity to her father, the Prophet of Allah (S) – was informed about general and specific future events by him. We know that the Prophet (S) used to inform the people about what would transpire after his death and about the signs of the End of Days and the period before the Day of Judgement. Is it then possible to imagine that he did not know what would happen to his family after he left this world? And especially what his beloved daughter, Fatimah al-Zahra would undergo? Or could it be possible that he knew all this but did not inform his family about that which concerns their future?
Indeed, the Prophet (S) informed his family about what would happen to them at the hands of the people soon after his death and later onwards. Notice how much the Prophet (S) told his companions and wives about the martyrdom of al-Husayn (‘a). It is certain, therefore, that he informed his beloved daughter Fatimah about the hardship, calamity, tribulation and misfortune that would befall her. This was especially true during the last weeks of his noble life, and particularly on the last day of his life, for his time was limited and there was no other opportunity for the Prophet of Allah (S) to divulge and disclose the reality to his daughter, telling her clearly [about what would transpire] and giving her glad tidings that she will not remain [alive] after him but for a short while, before she joins her father, the Prophet, in the highest plane and loftiest heaven. He then informed her about how circ*mstances would change [after his death]:
It has been narrated by ‘Abdullah Ibn al-’Abbas that when the Prophet (S) was on his deathbed, he began crying until his beard became wet. Someone asked, “O Prophet of Allah, what has made you cry?” He said, “I am crying for my progeny and what they will undergo at the hands of the evil ones among my ummah after my death. It is as if I can see my daughter Fatimah being oppressed after me as she cries out ‘O father!’ and nobody from my ummah assists her!” When Fatimah (‘a) heard this, she started crying So, the Prophet (S) said, “Don’t cry my dear daughter.” She said, “I am not crying because of what will happen to me after you. Rather, I am crying because of having to be separated from you, O Prophet of Allah.” So, he said to her, “I give you glad tidings then, O daughter of Muhammad, of your joining me swiftly, for you shall be the first person to join me from my household.”1
Ibn ‘Abbas has also narrated that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: “…When I saw her (Fatimah), I told her what would happen to her after I leave this world, for it is as if I see myself with her as disgrace enters her house, her honour is infringed, her right is usurped, her inheritance is seized, her ribs are broken, her child is miscarried while she cries out, “Wa Muhammadah!” and nobody is there to respond to her cries. She calls out for help, and nobody comes to help her! She thus remains sad, tormented, crying – at times, because the revelation has ceased coming down to her house, and at other times because she misses me – feeling lonely when night falls and she does not hear my voice as she used to when I would recite the Qur’an in the middle of the night. Then she sees herself humiliated after she had been revered during the lifetime of her father…”2
This is one of the numerous traditions that have come to us from the Holy Prophet (S) describing how he informed the Ahl al-Bayt about what would happen after him [after his death]. The last time that he forewarned his family (meaning Ali, al-Zahra, al-Hasan and al-Husayn) about this was during his final illness, just a few hours before his demise.
Jabir Ibn Abdillah al-Ansari narrates that during his final illness, after which he left this world, the Prophet (S) said to Fatimah (‘a), “May my parents be your ransom! Send for your husband and bring him to me.” So, Fatimah said to al-Hasan or al-Husayn, “Go and call your father and tell him your grandfather summons him.” When Ali Ibn Abi Talib came, he found Fatimah sitting next to the Holy Prophet saying, “O what hardship has befallen you, father!” The Prophet (S) replied, “No hardship shall befall your father after this day O Fatimah but say instead what your father said when [his son] Ibrahim died: ‘The eyes weep and the heart aches, but we say not that which angers our Lord, yet we are grieved by your loss O Ibrahim.’”3
It is narrated that the Prophet (S) called Ali, Fatimah, al-Hasan and al-Husayn (‘a) and asked everyone else who was in his house to leave. He said to Umm Salamah, “Stand at the door and allow no one to enter.”
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Then he said to Ali, “Come closer,” So, he came closer. He then took the hand of Fatimah, placed it on his chest for a long time, and took the hand of Ali with his other hand, but when he (S) wanted to speak, he was overwhelmed by his tears and could not speak. Upon seeing this, Fatimah cried intensely as did Ali, al-Hasan and al-Husayn (‘a). Fatimah said, “O Messenger of Allah, my heart has been cut open and my core is burning with grief at your tears – O Master of all Prophets, from first to last, and O Trustee of his Lord and His Messenger, His beloved and His Prophet!”
“Who will be there for my children after you, and when hardship befalls me after you? Who will be there for your brother Ali, helper of the faith? Who will be there to receive the divine revelations and commandments?” Then she cried, falling upon his face, So, he kissed her. Ali, al-Hasan and al-Husayn all drew close to him So, he raised his head, took Fatimah’s hand and placed it on Ali’s hand saying, “O Aba al-Hasan, this is the trust of Allah and His Prophet Muhammad being entrusted to you, So, protect her for the sake of Allah and for my sake, and [I know] you will surely do this.”
“O Ali, she is – by Allah – the Mistress of all Women of Paradise, from first to last. She is – by Allah – the Greater Maryam! By Allah, I did not arrive at this station until I had asked Allah for certain things regarding you, and He granted me what I asked for. O Ali, do what Fatimah asks you to do, for I have instructed her to do what Jibra’il has asked of her. And know, O Ali, that I am pleased with the one whom my daughter Fatimah is pleased with, as is my Lord and His angels. O Ali, the wrath of Allah is on the one who oppresses her. His wrath is on the one who usurps her rights, and on the one who infringes on her honour.”
Then the Prophet (S) drew Fatimah close to himself and embraced her. Kissing her head, he said, “May your father be your ransom O Fatimah…”4
In a lengthy narration from Imam al-Sadiq (‘a), it is reported that the Messenger of Allah (S) said to his daughter Fatimah (‘a): “… Do you not wish to see the angels in the vast heavens looking upon you and upon what you command? [Do you not wish to see them] looking at your husband when all the [evil] people are brought forth [on the Day of Resurrection] as he argues against them in front of Allah? What do you think Allah will then do with the killer of your son and those who kill you and your husband?”5
The Prophet (S) informs his daughter here – explicitly – that she will be killed, as will her husband and son. You will also read in the following chapter about what happened to the Mistress of all Women and how much pain and hardship she underwent, which eventually led to her martyrdom and death.
It is narrated that Imam Musa Ibn Ja’far (‘a) said: “I asked my father, Abu Abdillah [al-Sadiq] (‘a), ‘Was Amir al-Mu’minin not the one who wrote down the final will of the Prophet (S) as he dictated it to him, and were Jibra’il and the archangels (‘a) not witnesses to this?’ So, the Imam lowered his head for a long time and then replied, ‘O Aba al-Hasan, it was as you say, but when the matter6 descended upon the Messenger of Allah (S), the will came down from Allah in written form and Jibra’il brought it along with the other trusted archangels of Allah, the Most High. Then Jibra’il said: “O Muhammad, ask everyone to leave except your trustee and executor - So, that he may take the will from us and make us witnesses that you have given it to him, and that he promises to act upon it.”
So, the Prophet (S) instructed everyone to leave the house except Ali (‘a) and Fatimah - who remained between the curtain and the door. Jibra’il then said: “O Muhammad, your Lord sends salutations to you and says: ‘This document contains My covenant with you and that [mission] which I had charged you with and entrusted to you. I testify that you acted upon it and My angels testify [to this] as well, and I am sufficient – O Muhammad – as a witness.’”
He [Imam al-Sadiq] continued: ‘The Prophet (S) began to tremble and said, “O Jibra’il, my Lord is al-Salam, and from Him is al-Salam and to Him returns al-Salam. True and good are His words; please bring the document.” So, Jibra’il gave it to him and asked him to pass it to Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a). The Prophet [gave it to him and] told him to read it aloud and he read it word by word. The Prophet [then] said, “O Ali, this is the covenant of my Lord, the Almighty, with me. It is His charge upon me and His trust, and I have conveyed it, advised [others] of it and fulfilled it!”
Ali (‘a) said, “I bear witness – may my parents be your ransom – that you conveyed it and advised others of it, and what you have said is true. My ears, eyes, flesh and blood all testify to this!” Jibra’il said, “And I bear witness to this for both of you.” The Prophet (S) then said, “O Ali you have taken my will and understood it. Do you guarantee that you will act upon it and fulfil what is in it?” Ali (‘a) replied, “Yes – may my father and mother be your ransom – I promise to act upon it, and may Allah help me and grant me success in fulfilling it.”
The Messenger of Allah (S) said, “O Ali, I want witnesses to testify to your [pledge of] loyalty to me on the Day of Resurrection!” Ali (‘a) said, “Yes. Take witnesses.” So, the Prophet (S) said, “Verily Jibra’il and Mika’il are in front of us at this moment and with them are the [other] archangels. I make them my witnesses over you!” He replied, “Yes. Let them bear witness; and I too make them bear witness [to this] – may my parents be your ransom!” So, the Prophet made them bear witness.
One of the conditions that the Prophet (S) stipulated, as per the instruction of Jibra’il (‘a), who in turn was commanded by Allah, the Almighty, was [that he said]: “O Ali! Do you promise to befriend the friends of Allah and His Prophet and turn away from the enemies of Allah and His Prophet, keeping aloof from them with patience and forbearance, despite the loss of my right and the usurping of your share and the violation of your honour?” He said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.”
Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said: “By the One who splits the seeds and creates the human beings, I heard Jibra’il say to the Prophet, ‘O Muhammad! Let him know that his honour will be infringed, and this is like the honour of Allah and the Holy Prophet [being violated]; and that his beard will be dyed with blood from his head!’ When I heard these words from the trusted angel Jibra’il, I fell down on my face and said, ‘Yes, I accept and am pleased, even if my honour is violated! Even if the prophetic practices are abandoned, the [holy] Book is torn, the Ka’bah is damaged and my beard is dyed with blood from my head; I will remain ever patient, until I meet you.’”
Then the Prophet (S) called Fatimah, al-Hasan and al-Husayn, and informed them about what he had told Amir al-Mu’minin, and they too replied as he had replied. The will was then sealed with a seal of gold that was untouched by fire and given to Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a).”
The narrator said: “I asked Aba al-Hasan [al-Kazim] (‘a), ‘May my parents be your ransom! Will you not tell me what was written in the will?’ He said, ‘The ways of Allah and the practices of His Prophet.’ I asked, ‘Was there any mention of their unlawful seizure of power and their opposition to Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a)?’ He said, ‘Yes, by Allah, each and every thing, word for word. Have you not heard the words of the Almighty:
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُبِينٍ
“Indeed, it is We who revive the dead and write what they have sent ahead and their effects [which they left behind], and We have recorded everything in a manifest register” (36:12).
By Allah, the Holy Prophet (S) asked Amir al-Mu’minin and Fatimah (‘a): “Have I not told you about what will happen to you [after me] and what you will have to endure?” They replied: “Yes. And about how we will have to be patient with the ills and the bitter hardships that befall us.”’”7
In those last moments, the Holy Prophet (S) placed his head on the chest of Ali (‘a) and his heart felt restless as he embraced Fatimah, which he did repeatedly. His tears flowed like rain until his blessed beard became wet and the shawl that was covering him was also soaked. Al-Hasan and al-Husayn came forward, kissing his feet and crying in a loud voice. Ali (‘a) wanted to lift them up, but the Prophet (S) said: “Let them [remain with me and] smell my fragrance as I smell theirs, and let them get the most of me as I get the most of them, for they will both face great hardships after me. May Allah curse those who oppress them. O Allah! I am leaving them both in Your care and [to] the righteous believers.”
Do not ask about how al-Sayyida Fatimah al-Zahra wept in those final moments as she saw the great Prophet and her kind, loving father on his deathbed. She addressed her father with tears flowing: “May my soul be ransomed for yours, and may my face be a protection for your face! O father, will you not tell me anything, for Indeed, I see you and know that you will soon be leaving this world, and I see the pangs of death overwhelming you.” He said to her: “My daughter, I will soon be separated from you, So, please accept my [final] salutations.” And in Kashf al-Ghummah [it is narrated that he (S) said]:
“My dear daughter, you will Indeed, be oppressed after me! You will be wronged after I die, So, [know that] whoever hurts you has hurt me and whoever wrongs you has wronged me; whoever keeps ties with you has kept ties with me and whoever cuts off ties with you has cut off ties with me; whoever is just with you has been just with me for Indeed, you are from me and I am from you. You are part of me, and you are the soul that is inside me!” Then he said: “It is to Allah that I complain against those who oppress you from my ummah.”
Only a short while had passed after this when Ali (‘a) stood up saying: “Condolences to you all and may Allah increase your reward for the pain of losing your Prophet, for Indeed, Allah has taken his soul!” Upon hearing this, voices were raised in wailing and crying. This was the saddest day in the history of mankind and the most painful blow to the hearts of the Muslims. No other day saw more crying and weeping than that day.
This is how those bitter and painful moments, which were the most difficult moments in the life of al-Zahra, passed. How did those minutes effect the heart of Fatimah, as she saw her father’s body lying lifeless in front of her? Al-Zahra would say: “O father! You have been called to your Lord. O father! Your place of rest is the garden of Firdaus (in Paradise). O father! Jibra’il has been informed by us of your passing. O father! You have answered the call of your Lord!”8
Ali (‘a) was [crying and] saying: “O Messenger of Allah!” al-Hasan and al-Husayn were weeping and crying: “O grandfather! O grandfather!”
Ali (‘a) stood up to make the arrangements for washing the body of the Holy Prophet (S) and shrouding it, and when the time to pray over him came, al-Sayyida Fatimah al-Zahra was one of the people who prayed over the body of her great father.9
Al-Zahra continued weeping incessantly until the Holy Prophet (S) was buried. Upon returning home, she gathered all the women and said: “We belong to Allah and to Him do we return. Revelation from the heavens has now been cut off from us!” Then she recited a eulogy for her father [which we will recount shortly]. Later, she asked Anas Ibn Malik, “How could you bring yourself to throw dust on the Prophet of Allah?”
It is narrated that Imam al-Baqir (‘a) said: “Fatimah was never seen laughing or happy from the time the Holy Prophet (S) passed away, until she left this world.”10 And in another narration: “…except one time when she gave a small smile.” In addition, ‘Imran Ibn Dinar narrates that after the Prophet [died], Fatimah did not laugh until she left this world, because of the great and intense sorrow she felt, being separated from her [beloved] father (S).
- 1. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 156.
- 2. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 43, p. 172.
- 3. Abu al-Qasim Furat Ibn Ibrahim (4th Century A.H.), Tafsir Furat al-Kufi, p. 586.
- 4. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 22, p. 484.
- 5. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 44, p. 265.
- 6. It is possible that the ‘matter’ being referred to here is death.
- 7. Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 281.
- 8. Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 6, p. 15.
- 9. Cf. al-Tabarsi, al-Ihtijaj, vol. 1, p. 75.
- 10. Muhammad Ibn Ali Ibn Shahrashub al-Mazandarani (d. 588 A.H.), Manaqib Al Abi Talib, vol. 3, p. 362.
